Percent

 

One leg of a right triangle is increased by 70%, and the other leg is decreased by 70%.  By what percent does the area of the triangle decrease?     

 

Triangle before          A  =  (1/2)(b • h)     

 

Triangle after             A  =  (1/2)(1.70 b)(0.30 h)     

                                  A  =  (1/2)(b • h)(0.51)     

 

The area of the triangle decreases by 49%.     

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